Army engineers work to cut breakwater study's cost

LONG BEACH - New procedures adopted by the Army Corps of Engineers could substantially cut the cost of a study on reconfiguring Long Beach's breakwater.

The "Three-Three-Three" system places a three-year limit for the study, sets the price tag at no more than $3 million and requires the creation of an informational binder no thicker than 3 inches, according to Tom Modica, Long Beach manager of government affairs.

That could cut the original $8 million price tag for the breakwater study to $3 million, officials said Friday.

"It changes the scope of the study substantially," Modica said. "But there are still a lot of unknowns."

Modica said he plans to meet with Army Corps officials in the near future and expects to be reporting to the City Council in August.

"This is a good thing for breakwater advocates," said 4th District Councilman Pat O'Donnell. "From what we can tell, this is positive for people who want cleaner water and waves."

The breakwater wall off the Long Beach coast was completed in 1949 and was designed to quiet the water to help protect the Port of Long Beach and local coastal areas.

Originally, the Army Corps study could have cost $8 million - costs split between Long Beach and the federal government.

Modica said the city has $4 million in Tideland reserves set aside for its share of the study. He added, however, that the Army Corps has not yet identified funding for its share of the study.

A city report in July 2009 identified potential alternatives such as reconfiguring the Long Beach breakwater, changes in alignment of the Los Angeles River, creation of rocky reef habitat with kelp features and ways to deal with pollution issues. Alternatives will be developed in the feasibility study through a community outreach process, Army Corps planners said.

The city study listed constraints on the project, such as the port berths, Navy anchorage, Long Beach peninsula residences, THUMS islands, marinas and docks and navigational safety. The report made clear that these areas must not be adversely affected.

In the proposed study, the Army Corps will conduct an extensive analysis, including wave and water-quality modeling, economic and environmental factors, engineering and design, geotechnical studies, review of tidal elevations, sediment transport and other areas, according to Modica.